HSK 4, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 歹, rank #103, Medium
sǐ(si3) T3
1to die
2impassable
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March 24, 2026
死sǐ(si3)
The character 死 (sǐ) primarily means 'to die' and can be used in various contexts, including discussing death, rigidity, or inflexibility. It carries a sense of finality and can also describe something that is impassable or extremely rigid, often used metaphorically in everyday language.
Strokes6Radical歹Frequency#103DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions around death are often approached with sensitivity and respect, and the word 死 is sometimes avoided in favor of euphemisms, reflecting the deep cultural significance of life and death.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 死 as a person lying down with their arms out, representing the finality of death. The radical 死 looks like a person who has fallen to the ground, emphasizing the concept of being lifeless. Remember 'sǐ' by associating it with the sound of 'see,' as in 'I see death.'
Meanings of 死
sǐ(si3)
1to die
2impassable
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 死
死Simplified
6Strokes
歹Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#103Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 死
Podcast: 死
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AI Study Notes for 死
Quick Contrast
死 (sǐ) vs 死亡 (sǐwáng) — use 死 for a more direct, immediate sense of 'to die', while 死亡 emphasizes the state or concept of death.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 死 as a person lying down with their arms out, representing the finality of death. The radical 死 looks like a person who has fallen to the ground, emphasizing the concept of being lifeless. Remember 'sǐ' by associating it with the sound of 'see,' as in 'I see death.'
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone of 'sǐ,' as it is a third tone that can change the meaning if mispronounced. In informal contexts, it's often used in phrases like '死掉' (sǐ diào, to die) but should be used sensitively in formal discussions about death. Avoid using it lightly among acquaintances.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 死 connects with other vocabulary related to life and death. Focus on memorizing its meaning and pronunciation alongside words like 生活 (shēnghuó, life) and 活 (huó, to live), which can create a richer understanding of the concepts of life and death.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions around death are often approached with sensitivity and respect, and the word 死 is sometimes avoided in favor of euphemisms, reflecting the deep cultural significance of life and death.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 死 (sǐ) with 司 (sī), which means 'to manage or control.' A common mistake is to say 'sī' instead of 'sǐ' when discussing death. Always remember to use the third tone for 死.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 死
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Grammar Patterns of 死
死 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The man was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack.
Cultural Notes for 死
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of death is often associated with respect for ancestors. Many families honor their deceased relatives during festivals like Qingming, where they visit graves and make offerings.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussions around death are often approached with sensitivity and respect, and the word 死 is sometimes avoided in favor of euphemisms, reflecting the deep cultural significance of life and death.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, death is often discussed more openly, whereas in Chinese culture, it is typically treated with more caution and respect, which can lead to the use of euphemisms.
Word Family of 死
Compounds5
毙bi4to kill; to die a violent death
屍shi1body, corpse
斃bi4to kill; to die a violent death
塟
臰
Words Containing This Character20
死sǐto die
死亡sǐwángto die
该死Damn it!該死
杀死to kill殺死
死者the dead
死刑death penalty
死去to die
生死shēngsǐlife or death
死人dead person
打死to kill
坏死necrosis壞死
死因cause of death
死亡率mortality rate
气死to infuriate氣死
死神(fig.) death
致死deadly
冻死to freeze to death凍死
处死an execution處死
淹死to drown
死活fate
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 毙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 死
Synonyms for 死 (sǐ) include 死亡 (sǐwáng) which also means 'death', and 终 (zhōng), which means 'end' or 'finish'. These words can be used in various contexts to convey similar meanings.
Yes, 死 (sǐ) is a commonly used character in the Chinese language, especially in discussions related to life and death. It appears in various phrases and idiomatic expressions, making it an essential character to learn for intermediate learners.
死 (sǐ) means 'to die' in Chinese. It can also convey the idea of something being impassable, uncrossable, or inflexible. In certain contexts, it can denote something that is extremely or rigidly set.
You can use 死 (sǐ) to indicate death or a state of being inflexible. For example, in the sentence '他死了' (tā sǐ le), it means 'he died'. Additionally, you can use it to emphasize extremity, like in '死难' (sǐ nán), meaning 'extremely difficult'.
Common phrases include '死去' (sǐ qù, to die) and '死了' (sǐ le, has died).
Generally, 死 has negative connotations and is not used positively; however, it can be used metaphorically to emphasize extremity, such as '死心' (sǐ xīn, to give up hope).
